Blu Kouzina — Restaurant in Sarasota

Upon arrival, I was immediately impressed by the stunning atmosphere of the restaurant. It remains beautiful, coastal, welcoming, and impressively trendy without relinquishing an iconically Greek vibe in exchange for outrageously "modern" pursuits. Our hostess was extremely kind and attentive, providing us with both satiating answers to our various questions about the cuisine and equally filling food. On such topic, I must say that the dishes were truly incredible. Our appetizer, the grilled Manouri cheese, had the loveliest honey and balsamic glaze, wonderfully complimenting the bread and spices it was served with. Its flavor was well-balanced, even for me who tends to have a low tolerance and liking for sweet foods. The grilled octopus was perfectly cooked and seasoned to absolute perfection. The meat was astutely tender with a prominent crispiness courtesy of the incredible cooking method. I will say that it was downright drowning in extra virgin olive oil, as expected, and I found it a bit strong for my personal liking. Of course, it was still absolutely delicious. Likewise, the Moussaka was a true culinary experience and was simply a delectable indulgence. The eggplant had no bit of bitterness and almost seemed to melt in my mouth. Along with this, the béchamel stunned me on the spot. Not to mention the meat sauce, the star of the show, which was richly flavored and indeed nourishing to both the stomach and soul. Truthfully, I almost inquired about the recipe! The portioning was quite fair for the price, and I can imagine potential leftovers. I also recommend sharing dishes at this establishment to get the true variety it has to offer. Each dish was also served and presented in a timely and orderly manner, a great incentive for us who came early. For those concerned about options, I can assure you that the menu is vast and widely inclusive; therefore I plan to return soon. Plenty of dishes were permissable for vegetarian, vegan, keto, and Paleo lifestyles without losing their special and authentic Greek flair. On a different note, the restaurant's atmosphere was a lovely blend of comforting, stylistic, and cultural. It fits Sarasota's natural beachy vibe without seeming too repetitive in its theming. As a Florida native, I greatly appreciated this uniqueness. The outdoor dining area was preferable for me, as the weather permitted external seating. I will admit that the interior seemed just as appealing, however. The decor is filled with Mediterranean influence without overpowing the local vibe, making the spot widely accessible to all types of people. I saw various families dining there, proving that the restaurant is relatively kid-friendly. The restrooms are extremely clean and equally impressive. Overall, I am in awe of the total experience and cannot stress how much I recommend this place. Blu Kouzina is outright the best Greek food I've ever had! An absolute must-try for all visiting St. Armand's or even...

We were excited to try this restaurant. We eat at many Greek and Mediterranean restaurants in different countries. This was sadly a disappointment. The waiter and customer service was excellent. The greek salad was fresh and tasty. The grilled chicken on the salad was bland. The roast lemon chicken was also bland. We ordered the grilled calamari with potatoes and veg. The potatoes and veg were good but the calamari was over cooked and burnt. They purposely turned the burnt side down so it wasn't visible but once you try to eat it, it's so burned and hard, it's not even edible. We love a good tender octopus/calamari but this wasn't it, unfortunately.

The frappe was ok, nice and strong coffee. I was hoping the baklava was going to redeem the whole experience but I don't know what's worse, the baklava or the calamari. I've had many baklavas. Greek, Turkish, Palestinian, Lebanese, etc... This was the worst and driest baklava I've ever had in my life. Yes, there were lots of nuts inside but might as well not have that many when you can turn it upside down and all the nuts will all fall out. There's no butter or syrup inside to bind the nuts. There was a little syrup in the base but barely to even seep into the pastry.

I highly suggest they try their baklava first before serving it to customers. I'm not sure if they make it in-house or order it from a wholesaler. I should've bought a baklava next door at the Turkish Cafe. Next time, that's what I'll do.

I know there are a lot of good reviews. Maybe it was just an off day for food.

I will highlight that the service was great! Super...

I have reviewed this restaurant before, but felt a need to go back and do it again because if just keeps getting better. I have now been here 4 times, not repeated the same meal twice, and walked away feeling like I have just had one of the best meals anywhere. First of all, do get reservations because it has become very popular. Second, be sure to save room and share so you can try the many items on the menu. Three, if you are getting wine, get a wine from Greece or the area because this restaurant knows what it is doing in that category. As far as food … first we shared a beet and apple salad. This was amazing. Don’t think lettuce and a few bites of the other. Instead think of a bowl of carefully spiced and flavored pieces of beet and apple. Then we moved on the sharing the stuffed red pepper. This has a real kick of heat, but more from the oil it is in than from the pepper itself. Still, if you are sensitive to heat you won’t like it. If you can take some heat you will adore it. Next came grilled manouri cheese. This is topped with balsamic and honey and creates a flavor like none other. For my main I had a special of the day lamb shank on a bed of couscous with a wine reduction sauce. The lamb fell off the bone and every flavor mixed perfectly. Ate half so made for dinner the next night as well. My wife was filled on the other starters so she simply had the Spanakopita. Don’t think of the institutional little wedges you see at every other restaurant. These were phylo pillows filled with spinach, feta cheese and spices and baked. So tender, so...